Living with a print: light, framing and care

A pigment print on cotton paper is made to last for generations. What decides whether it does is mostly what happens after it arrives.

Unpacking

Prints travel flat or rolled in rigid packaging. Open the parcel on a clean, dry table. Handle the sheet by its edges, ideally with clean, dry hands or cotton gloves: fingerprints on the image area can leave marks that surface later. If the print arrived rolled, let it relax face-up on a flat surface for a day under light, clean weight at the corners — never iron or bend it.

If the print arrives damaged, photograph the packaging and the sheet before anything else and write to us within one week of delivery. We will replace it; our shipping and returns page has the details.

Light

Light is the one thing that ages every print. Hang away from direct sunlight, which is many times stronger than the brightest room light. A wall that catches no direct sun, or only a little in the late afternoon, is ideal. Glazing that filters ultraviolet makes a real difference and is worth asking any framer for.

Framing

A print should be framed so that nothing acidic touches it: an acid-free mount or mat, acid-free backing, and a small space between the glazing and the print's surface. The generous lower margin on these prints is there for the signature and edition number — a window mat that leaves them visible is traditional.

The studio can frame a print on request, in black, grey or white aluminium. Write to info@ikkimitsuhashi.com with the work and size.

Where to hang

Avoid bathrooms, kitchens and walls above radiators or heaters: rapid changes in humidity and temperature are harder on paper than steady conditions. A living room, a hallway or a bedroom wall out of the sun is ideal. Hang with the centre of the picture at roughly eye height — about 145–155 cm from the floor.

Care

Dust the frame, not the glass, with a dry, soft cloth; if the glazing needs cleaning, spray the cloth rather than the glass so no liquid runs under the frame. Keep the certificate of authenticity with your papers rather than inside the frame.

For what the print is made of, see what is an archival pigment print. To choose one, start with the collection.